Ladybridge Farm: Excavation (Site Code lbf07 Intervention 03)

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Intervention location on OS. This intervention green, others purple (in prep)

Investigation Type: excavation
Undertaken By: Mike Griffiths and Associates
Year: 2007


Following the submission of a revised planning application to extend quarrying into an area east of Nosterfield Quarry known as Ladybridge Farm, a scheme of archaeological works was agreed by English Heritage, North Yorkshire County Council and Mike Griffiths & Associates, the consultants employed by Tarmac Northern Limited.  The work outlined in that scheme is currently in progress, the haul road linking the existing quarry to Ladybridge Farm, Area 1, Area 2 and Area 3 having now been investigated.  Work has now commenced in Area 4.

To date three prehistoric pits and one possible prehistoric pit (though undated), have been encountered along the route of the haul road.  Areas 1 and 2 have revealed no prehistoric material, but a system of post-medieval boundary ditches are evident along with a possible though isolated posthole, and a possible pit thought to be of recent origin.  The remaining anomalies visible on cleaning the exposed natural were all of non human origin, consisting of root and animal disturbance, and a number of geological sinkholes.

The excavation of Area 3 recorded one prehistoric pit and a second undated feature filled with burnt stones on a small area if higher ground toward the edge of the site.  As with Area 2 the remaining anomalies were either natural in origin or post medieval in date.

When compared with the topography of the site, on which a predictive model has been created in an attempt to define areas of high and limited archaeological potential, all of the possible and definite prehistoric features fall within the bounds of the model.  The absence of prehistoric archaeology in those areas thought to be of low potential would appear to corroborate the hypothesis of that model.

Area 4 is currently being investigated; the topsoil strip is expected to have been finished by the end of April 2010. Details of the findings and diary entries will be posted here as work continues, though if you're looking for excitement you might be better off looking elsewhere ... but we will shout if anything interesting does crop up :)


Reports

Minutes

Other Documents

topsoil strip

17th December 2007 - topsoil strip continues in earnest
(and no, this isn't a montage, it's a single shot with a shutter speed of 1 second,
it just so happened that Gigi (middle) and Dick (right) didn't move!)

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